129 Cricklade Street in 1919 directory. The present day address is 79 Cricklade Street.
Wilts and Glos Standard, Thursday 20th May 1999- Pub pipped at post for prize: The Wheatsheaf pub in Cirencester has narrowly missed in its bid to become Sports Bar of the Year. At the prestigious Licensee Industry Awards ceremony at the Park Lane Hotel in London, the award went to Champs, a Sheffield bar.
The Wheatsheaf had made it to the final four pubs.
Landlord Dave Watson said: “We are hugely disappointed that despite good wishes and tremendous support from our customers, we were unable to win the award. Mr Watson, a Newcastle United fan, has been the owner of the Wheatsheaf since 1992. Since arriving at the pub he has installed eight new televisions and also begun displaying sporting memorabilia.
The national competition, sponsored by Carlsberg, was run by publicans trade magazine Licensing and Morning Advertiser. Pub were invited to enter and show they fitted a number of criteria ranging from televising sport to helping the local sporting community.
19th August 1999 – Advertisement: The Wheatsheaf pub based in Cricklade Street, Cirencester, has changed quite dramatically over the last few years. They offer a fantastic menu with food served from noon-6pm Monday-Saturday and a choice of three meats on Sunday for a roast dinner from noon-2.30pm. All pies are home-cooked and there is a daily specials menu to choose from. OAP lunches are available on Tuesday lunch time from noon-2.30pm.
The bar offers a selection of traditional ales featuring different guest ales every two weeks. A function room is available for hire for christenings, wedding receptions, meetings, etc. There is a skittle alley, outside courtyard, separate play area for the children and a car park.
A finalist in a national sports bar competition, you can expect to see all major sporting events on their large screens or one of their seven other televisions.
The Wheatsheaf has a lot to offer in its warm and friendly atmosphere – there is something for everyone.
Gloucestershire Echo, 5th November 2001 -Town is up for the cup: Football fans in Cirencester will be able to get their hands on the FA Cup. The trophy is coming to the town next month and members of the public can have their picture taken with it.
The cup will be on show at the Wheatsheaf Inn in Cricklade Street between 10am and 6pm on December 21st. Fans can have their picture taken for a £5 charity charge.
Gloucestershire Echo, 12th August 2003 – Charged with assault: A man suffered cuts and bruises on his face after an assault at The Wheatsheaf pub in Cirencester. Police were called to the Cricklade Street pub at 8pm. The 49-year-old victim from Cirencester, was taken to Cirencester Hospital. A 33 year-old man, of no fixed abode was arrested and charged with causing actual bodily harm. He was released on conditional bail and will appear before Cirencester magistrates on August 19th.
Gloucestershire Echo, 10th September 2003 – Man jailed for injuring landlord: A man, 33, from Fosse Lane, Stow-on-the-Wold, has been jailed for six months for attacking a Cirencester landlord. He admitted to headbutting Dave Watson, who runs the Wheatsheaf Inn, on August 11th. Town magistrates were told he became aggressive when Mr Watson asked the defendants two-year-son to get down from a beer barrel in the pub’s beer garden. The man put his am around Mr Watson’s neck and headbutted him twice.
Peter Ashby, prosecuting, said Mr Watson was taken to Cirencester Hospital to be treated for three separate cuts. Anne Frost, defending, said the man, who had problems with alcohol and losing his temper, handed himself in to the police. She added: “He doesn’t feel at all proud of what he has done.”
The accused was jailed for six months for assault causing actual bodily harm. He was also given a concurrent one-month jail term for breaking a conditional discharge, issued in May, for using violence to enter premises.
Gloucestershire Echo, Friday 8th October 2004 – Godding wins pub cheers: Cirencester pub The Wheatsheaf have won a six-a-side cricket competition. It was organised by Gloucestershire County Cricket Club and the Wheatsheaf were captained by Paul Godding. Godding was joined by five Cheltenham team-mates – George Brooksbank, Adrian Stenner, James Elliott-Square, Jackson Thompson and Phil Arnold.
The last four teams in the competition played a round-robin at the County Ground and the other three were The Victoria and The Prince of Wales, both from Westbury-on-Trym, and The Bayshill, from Cheltenham.
The Wheatsheaf won £3,000, of which the team and the pub landlord Dave Watson will give a substantial amount to the scanner appeal at Cirencester Hospital.
Wilts & Glos Standard, Thursday 23rd February 2006 – Landlords slate smoking ban plan: Dave Watson, landlord of the Wheatsheaf in Cirencester and chairman of the Licensed Victuallers Association, said pubs across the country could expect to see a drop in trade. He said: “It will affect pubs immensely. The figures for Ireland show an 11 percent drop in trade nationally with 13 percent in Dublin and that’s been going on for two years. In New York it was initially a 30 percent drop off but that returned to percent since as it stabilised. I think there will be a loss to the pub trade of people who will not come back.”
Gloucestershire Echo – Kat in pole position for charity: The launch party of a charity pole dancing calendar which promotes the fitness side of the activity will be hosted by Kat Williamson, owner of PoleLove at the Wheatsheaf, Cirencester. The calendar is being launched in 1st November 2007 to raise money for Cancer Research UK. The launch party will take place at the Plug’n’Play club in Reading, where the photographs for the calendar were shot.
17th November 2021 – Facebook Post
It is with extreme sadness, we have to inform you of our decision to leave The Wheatsheaf after 29 years. It is not a decision we have taken lightly and have spent many months deciding what to do.
We have seen a decline in trade since returning from the lockdowns and with the increase in rent, the business is no longer sustainable.
We would like to thank those who have continued to support us, and to thank everyone over the last 29 years for their loyalty and support. We have truly made some amazing friends, and wonderful memories.
We will be closing in March.
Due to staff leaving for alternative employment, we will cease serving food from 4th December, with exception of our Sunday lunches and our pre-booked Christmas meals.
Thank you for your understanding,
Dave, Carolyn, Robert and Abi
22nd June 2022- Facebook Post
Well where do I start? after 24 years of living in the Wheatsheaf and 29 years (and 8 months) of running the pub, the Watsons finally hand back the keys and bid their farewell to the customers of Cirencester.
An emotional few weeks and a fantastic last night of trading on Tuesday 14th June leads us to the handing back of the keys.
There’s so much I can say about so many, but I’ll keep it short!
Thank you to the wonderful people of Cirencester (and more) who have made it a fantastic, incredible, unforgettable experience in the Wheatsheaf… and the wonderful staff (so many I could mention) who helped run the well oiled machine.
It pains me to say goodbye to our home but like we all know, everyones journey must come to an end.
From Dave, Carolyn, Robert, Abi and Jason and Lesley.
Licensing Details:
Owner in 1891: Cirencester Brewery
Rateable Value in 1891: £24.0s.0d.
Type of license in 1891: Alehouse
Owner in 1903: Cirencester Brewery
Rateable Value in 1903: £24.0s.0d.
Type of license in 1903: Alehouse
Closing time in 1903: 11pm
Landlords at the Wheatsheaf Inn include:
1820 Abraham Blizzard
1830 Sarah Blizzard (Wheatsheaf Tavern)
1840 Mary Berry
1856,1871 John Berry
1885,1910 George Watts
1913,1919 Walter Orchard
1927,1939 Mrs A.F. Orchard
1999 Dave Watson
